Mixing device and mixing tap system

Abstract

A mixing device for mixing at least two different types of liquids of different ingredients suitable for being placed within a tap spout, preferably at a spout outlet, comprising at least two inlets configured to receive the liquids. The mixing device is adapted to deliver liquids separately at the same time such that the liquids mix at an outlet of the mixing device. The mixing device may further comprise a mixing space adapted to mix the liquids received at the inlets and deliver the mixture of the liquids, or deliver one type of liquid through the mixing space when only one type of liquid is received at the inlets, at the outlet of the mixing device. Each of the inlets is connected to a respective conduit that is fluidly separated from the other conduits. The present invention further relates to mixing tap systems using such a mixing device.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A mixing tap system, comprising:
 a tap with a tap base, a tap housing and a tap spout, wherein at least two fluidly separated inlet conduits are connected to the tap base, wherein a first inlet conduit of the at least two inlet conduits is configured to supply a drinking liquid to the tap base from a drinking liquid supplying device, and wherein a second inlet conduit of the at least two inlet conduits is configured to supply an additive liquid to the tap base from an additive liquid supplying device; 
 a first operating member configured to operate a first valve positioned between the tap base and the drinking liquid supplying device and a second valve positioned between the tap base and the additive liquid supplying device for opening and closing the first valve or the second valve for delivering at least one of the drinking liquid or the additive liquid; 
 wherein the tap spout comprises at least a first internal conduit and a second internal conduit running within the tap that are fluidly separated from each other for separately delivering the additive liquid and the drinking liquid; 
 a mixing device within the tap spout, the mixing device comprising a first inlet connected to the first internal conduit and configured to receive the drinking liquid and a second inlet connected to the second internal conduit and configured to receive the additive liquid; 
 a tap outlet, wherein the first inlet and the second inlet are adapted to deliver the drinking liquid and the additive liquid separately at the same time such that the drinking liquid and the additive liquid mix at the tap outlet; 
 wherein the mixing device is arranged in the vicinity of the tap outlet; 
 wherein the first internal conduit and the second internal conduit are flexible and run from the tap base through the tap to the mixing device in a concentric manner; 
 wherein the first internal conduit is inside the second internal conduit; and 
 wherein the first internal conduit is fixed with respect to the spout and terminates at a tip of the spout with a nozzle. 
 
     
     
       2. The mixing tap system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third inlet conduit connected to the tap base, wherein the third inlet conduit is configured to supply to the tap base hot line water or cold line water or a mixture of hot and cold line water mixed by a further mixing device that is configured to mix the hot and cold line water for obtaining line water at a desired temperature, wherein the further mixing device is operated by a second operating member configured to deliver hot line water, cold line water, or the mixture of hot and cold line water; and 
 wherein the tap spout comprises a third internal conduit running within the tap that is fluidly separated from the first internal conduit and the second internal conduit for delivering the hot line water or the cold line water or the mixture of hot and cold line water. 
 
     
     
       3. The mixing tap system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third inlet conduit connected to the tap base, wherein the third inlet conduit is configured to supply to the tap base hot line water; 
 a fourth inlet conduit connected to the tap base, wherein the fourth inlet conduit is configured to supply to the tap base cold line water; and 
 a further mixing device that is configured to mix hot and cold line water for obtaining line water at a desired temperature, wherein the further mixing device is operated by a second operating member configured to deliver the hot line water, the cold line water, or a mixture of hot and cold line water, wherein the mixture of hot and cold line water is delivered to the further mixing device via a third internal conduit running within the tap that is fluidly separated from the first internal conduit and the second internal conduit-. 
 
     
     
       4. The mixing tap system of  claim 2 , wherein the further mixing device is positioned in or at the tap base. 
     
     
       5. The mixing tap system of  claim 1 , further comprising a control unit electrically connected to the first operating member and configured to control operation of the first operating member so as to control a concentration of a mixture of the drinking liquid and the additive liquid delivered by controlling the flow rate or volume amount of each of the drinking liquid and the additive liquid. 
     
     
       6. The mixing tap system of  claim 1 , wherein the first internal conduit is capable of being pulled out with respect to the spout such that a hose end of the first internal conduit is extended out the spout tip. 
     
     
       7. The mixing tap system of  claim 6 , wherein the first internal conduit is provided with a ballast element for pulling the first internal conduit back to its normal position inside the spout after having pulled it out from the spout and having left it free. 
     
     
       8. The mixing tap system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second operating unit configured to operate a first pump positioned between the tap base and the drinking liquid supplying device and a second pump positioned between the tap base and the additive liquid supplying device for delivering at least one of the drinking liquid or the additive liquid. 
     
     
       9. The mixing tap system of  claim 8 , wherein the second pump for delivering the additive liquid is configured to return any additive liquid remaining in the second inlet conduit back to the additive liquid supplying device.